Soldier parade a ‘huge honour’

Soldiers from the Royal Engineers will be marching through Eastwood in May.

Published:15:27Thursday 05 April 2012

EASTWOOD Town Council is pulling out all the stops to welcome more than 100 soldiers parading through the town later this spring.

Soldiers from the Royal Engineers will be marching through the town on May 12 to exercise their Freedom of the Borough, which was awarded to the group in 2010.

Bunting will be put up in the town, school children and care home residents will all come out to greet their arrival and shopkeepers will have their windows decked out with Union Jacks.

The town Mayor Ken Woodhead said the parade was ‘an honour’ for the town and the council was ‘over the moon’.

“It’s a real big honour for Eastwood which is why we want plenty of people to come out and support it to give the soldiers a real good turnout.

“I’ve asked all the shops in Eastwood to put flags in their windows and I’m going to the care homes and asking the residents to come out and see it because I’m sure a lot of them won’t want to miss it.

“We are trying to make it a big event. It’s a huge honour, and it will only happen the once. Everyone should support our troops.”

The troops will march with a band from the Good Counsel at Hilltop to Durban House Heritage Centre in Mansfield Road, passing the war memorial at the top of Plumptre Way, the cadets cross in Edward Road and the memorial cottages in Mansfield Road.

Eastwood Town Council is refurbishing the memorial in Mansfield Road in time for the event, and soldiers will re-dedicate it following the parade.

The Freedom of the Borough was awarded in recognition of the unit’s outstanding achievements, commitment and dedication in the service of this country.

As the only Regular Army Unit currently based in Nottinghamshire, 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group, has been based at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell since 1986

Eastwood charity Communities Against Poverty is holding a CD and DVD sale to raise money to make the union jack bunting for Nottingham Road.

If anyone has any unwanted CDs or DVDs they should take them to Eastwood Post Office or call Angela Smith on 01773 712 637.